Abraham was ordained by God to
be the father of many nations, but most specifically that nation
which the Lord called His own. The Lord raised him up out of
no reputation and called him while he was yet in unbelief,
and made him to rule as a mighty man and a father of Israel. He
was the recipient, along with his seed, of all the promises
of God. Yet Abraham, being a mere mortal,
passed from this world and returned back to the dust from whence
he came. So he cannot be that one through whom the promise
of God is manifested and applied in an everlasting fashion. We
read in the book of Galatians that the blessing of Abraham
would come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ. Now to Abraham
and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds
as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed which is Christ. All of the blessings ordained
for the sons of God come to them through that one who is the seed
of Abraham, even Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.
They have no benefit that is not applied to them in the person
of Jesus Christ, even those enjoyed by Abraham himself. Though Jesus
Christ was the offspring of Abraham after the flesh, yet even the
gift of faith which was bestowed on Abraham and his calling out
of pagan darkness in Ur of the Chaldees was the result of his
having been loved by Christ with an everlasting love and chosen
in him before the foundation of the world. Abraham was as
much a recipient of the grace of God as any of those who were
found among those called of God and ordained unto eternal life.
The Jews thought that they were the chosen people of God based
on their lineage being traced from Abraham. Many so-called
Bible scholars and prophetic experts express the same notion,
disregarding the clear teaching of Paul who said, For he is not
a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision
which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew which is one
inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit,
and not in the letter. For they are not all Israel which
are of Israel, neither because they are the seed of Abraham
are they all children. Those children who are the heirs
of the promise are not those who are born of Abraham's natural
seed, but those who are born again by the power of the Holy
Ghost, even as John testified. But as many as received him,
to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Those who are Abraham's natural seed boast of their lineage.
The sons of God, on the other hand, have nothing to boast in
but the cross of Christ. All of their blessings are the
product of God's own purpose and grace which He freely bestowed
on them before the foundation of the world. They were created
as the sons of God and have not become the sons of God through
any action, merit, or natural relation. This is that Israel
of which Isaiah goes on to speak, saying, Thou art my servant,
I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not, for
I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy
God. I will strengthen thee, yea,
I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand
of my righteousness. This is that same promise which
Paul recounts when he said, For whom he did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom
he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called,
them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not
his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not
with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything
to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea,
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword,
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things
to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall
be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord. Is this your hope?